Sauber Motorsport, the Audi F1 manufacturing unit crew from 2026 onwards, has secured a top-ranking professional for its formidable Formula One venture because it pronounces the longer term appointment of Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal on the newest from midway within the 2025 season. In this function, Wheatley will be part of COO and CTO Mattia Binotto to type a pairing that may lead the administration crew at Sauber Motorsport AG.2
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With the current realignment of the administration group crew of the longer term Audi F1 manufacturing unit crew and Binotto becoming a member of the crew, the appointment of Wheatley represents the following logical step for the crew—one which brings to the crew the providers of one of the vital revered and profitable people within the sport.
Wheatley’s profession in Formula One began at Benetton Formula One within the early Nineteen Nineties, the place he rose to turn into chief mechanic. He then moved to the newly based Red Bull Racing crew, the place he achieved appreciable success as Sporting Director. In his time in Milton Keynes, Wheatley received all six of the six-team constructor’s and 7 Driver’s World Championships.
In their new positions, Binotto and Wheatley will report on to Gernot Döllner, who’s Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG. With a transparent division of duties and individually outlined obligations, they’ll collectively take accountability for the racing crew’s success.
As COO and CTO, Binotto takes over the operative administration of Sauber Motorsport AG on the website in Hinwil and the technical growth of future racing vehicles; on this function, he’s the general technical interface between the event groups in Hinwil and Neuburg an der Donau, which is liable for the event of the ability unit.
Wheatley will full Audi’s new administration crew for Formula One as Team Principal and administration spokesperson by July 2025 on the newest. He will focus, above all, on the racing efficiency of the longer term F1 manufacturing unit crew, on operational administration of all race occasions, and on representing Audi on the Team Principal degree in issues regarding Formula One.
The choice in favour of a twin administration crew is a part of the realignment of the management construction of the longer term manufacturing unit crew within the context of Audi’s full takeover of all Sauber Group shares.
Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport:
I’m delighted that we now have been capable of appoint Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal for our future Formula One crew. Jonathan has performed a big half in lots of race victories and World Championship titles in his Formula One profession and has in depth paddock expertise. He is a treasured addition to our crew. With the appointment of Jonathan and Mattia, we now have taken a decisive step in the direction of our entry into Formula One. I’m satisfied that, with the 2 of them, we now have mixed an especially excessive degree of competence for Audi. Their expertise and talent will assist us get a foothold rapidly within the difficult, aggressive world of Formula One.
Jonathan Wheatley, future Team Principal of the Audi F1 manufacturing unit crew:
I’m extremely proud to have been part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the past eighteen years and can go away with many fond recollections. However, the chance to actively take part in Audi’s entry into Formula One as head of a manufacturing unit crew is a uniquely thrilling prospect, and I stay up for the problem. I’m additionally glad to be working along with Mattia, whom I’ve identified for a few years and who’s the precise particular person to collaborate with on this thrilling venture.
Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport:
I’ve identified Jonathan for years and price him extremely as an skilled and dedicated motorsport professional. 2026, when Audi will be part of Formula One as a manufacturing unit crew, isn’t a very long time away now, and I’m trying ahead to establishing the brand new racing crew for Audi together with Jonathan and main it to success.
